Turning Up the Heat: Holey Metamaterials Enhance Thermal Energy Harvesting
Monday, October 19, 2015 - 10:00
in Physics & Chemistry
It's estimated that the U.S. fails to use more than half of the energy it generates -- mostly because it escapes as waste heat. Scientists from the University of Colorado are developing a new type of system to efficiently capture some of that lost heat. They have designed a surface that enhances low frequency thermal radiation, which is easier than higher frequencies to "harvest" directly out of the air and turn into usable DC electricity. The researchers will describe the surface at the AVS 62nd International Symposium and Exhibition, held Oct. 18-23 in San Jose, Calif.